Jagmeet Singh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jagmeet Singh
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Singh in 2023
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| Leader of the New Democratic Party | |
| Assumed office October 1, 2017 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Tom Mulcair |
| Member of Parliament for Burnaby South |
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| Assumed office February 25, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Kennedy Stewart |
| Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Bramalea—Gore—Malton |
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| In office October 6, 2011 – October 20, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Kuldip Kular |
| Succeeded by | Riding dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jagmeet Singh Jimmy Dhaliwal
January 2, 1979 Scarborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | New Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Ontario New Democratic |
| Spouse |
Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu
(m. 2018) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Gurratan Singh (brother) |
| Residences | Burnaby, British Columbia |
| Education |
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| Occupation |
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| Signature |  |
Jagmeet Singh Jimmy Dhaliwal (born January 2, 1979) is a Canadian politician. He has been the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) since 2017. Singh is also a Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnaby South since 2019.
Before becoming an MP, he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He represented Bramalea—Gore—Malton from 2011 to 2017. Singh is a Sikh of Punjabi background. He is the first Sikh to lead a major federal political party in Canada.
After law school, Singh worked as a criminal defence lawyer. He even started a law firm with his brother, Gurratan. His political journey began in 2011 when he ran in a federal election. Later that year, he won a seat in the provincial parliament. In 2015, he became the deputy leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party. He was elected as the federal NDP leader on October 1, 2017.
Singh is the first person from a visible minority group to permanently lead a major Canadian federal political party. He is also the first turban-wearing Sikh to be a provincial lawmaker in Ontario. Singh is known for his fashion sense. He believes in progressive and social democrat ideas. He wants to help middle-class families and tax very rich people and large companies more.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jagmeet Singh was born on January 2, 1979, in Scarborough, a part of Toronto. His parents were immigrants from the Punjab region of India. His great-grandfather, Sewa Singh Thikriwala, was a political activist who worked for India's independence.
Singh spent his early childhood in Newfoundland and Labrador. His family then moved to Windsor, Ontario. He attended Detroit Country Day School in Michigan for grades 6 to 12.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Western Ontario in 2001. In 2005, he graduated with a law degree from York University's Osgoode Hall Law School. He became a lawyer in Ontario in 2006.
Jagmeet has two younger siblings, Gurratan and Manjot. His brother, Gurratan Singh, was also elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2018.
Early Career and Entering Politics
Before politics, Singh worked as a criminal defence lawyer in the Greater Toronto Area. He said his work as a lawyer, especially protecting people's rights, inspired him to enter politics.
He started his political career in the 2011 federal election. He ran as the NDP candidate in Bramalea—Gore—Malton. During this election, he chose to use the common name "Singh" instead of his family name "Dhaliwal." He did this to show his belief in equality for everyone. He lost that election by a small number of votes.
Provincial Politics
In the 2011 Ontario provincial election, Singh ran again in the same area. This time, he won! He became the first New Democrat elected from the Regional Municipality of Peel. He was also the first turban-wearing Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP).
First Term in Office
As an MPP, Singh worked on important issues. He asked for more police accountability. He wanted stronger rules for the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which looks into police actions.
In 2012, he tried to pass a law to change car insurance rates. He wanted to stop insurance companies from charging different rates based on where people lived. He also worked to lower fees on money transfers sent overseas.
In 2013, Singh proposed a motion to reduce car insurance premiums by 15 percent. The legislature passed his motion, and this reduction was included in the government's budget. In December 2013, a law he introduced was passed. It made April "Sikh Heritage Month" in Ontario.
Second Term in Office
Singh was re-elected in 2014. He continued to work on important issues.
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In 2015, Singh introduced a bill about Tarion, a group that regulates home building. He wanted more transparency and oversight for this organization.
He also introduced a motion to stop "carding," which is when police stop people randomly on the street. The legislature agreed with his motion. Singh also proposed a bill to allow turban-wearing Sikhs to ride motorcycles without helmets, as it is a religious practice. This bill did not pass.
Singh resigned as an MPP on October 20, 2017. This was after he won the federal NDP leadership race.
Leader of the New Democratic Party
After the previous NDP leader, Tom Mulcair, stepped down, Jagmeet Singh decided to run for the leadership. He announced his plan to run on May 15, 2017.
Becoming Party Leader
Singh was elected leader of the federal NDP on October 1, 2017. He won on the first vote with 53.8 percent of the support. This made him the new leader of the party.
Leading from Outside Parliament
Initially, Singh led the NDP from outside of Parliament. He wanted to run in a riding where he felt a "genuine connection." He eventually decided to run in Burnaby South.
2019 and 2021 Federal Elections
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On February 25, 2019, Singh won the by-election in Burnaby South. This meant he became a Member of Parliament.
In the 2019 Canadian federal election, Singh was re-elected in Burnaby South. The NDP won 24 seats across Canada. The Liberal government did not win enough seats for a majority, so the NDP held the balance of power. This meant they could influence government decisions.
In the 2021 Canadian federal election, Singh was again re-elected in Burnaby South. The NDP gained one seat, bringing their total to 25.
Working with the Government
On March 22, 2022, the NDP made an agreement with the governing Liberal Party of Canada. This agreement meant the NDP would support the Liberals on important votes. In return, the government agreed to work on certain NDP priorities. These included a plan for pharmacare (making medicines more affordable) by the end of 2023. They also agreed to create a dental care program for low-income Canadians by 2025.
Political Ideas
Jagmeet Singh identifies as a progressive and a social democrat. This means he believes in social equality and a strong role for the government in helping people.
Economy and Fairness
Singh believes that many Canadians are living in poverty. He supports a progressive tax system. This means richer people pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes. He wants to remove tax breaks for very high-income earners. He would use that money to help seniors, workers, and disabled Canadians with lower incomes.
He supports a $20/hour minimum wage. He also wants a universal pharmacare system, saying that "universal healthcare is essential when we talk about equality for all Canadians." He believes closing tax loopholes for the very rich could pay for this.
In 2019, Singh promised to help build 500,000 affordable homes. He wants to remove federal taxes on new affordable housing projects to encourage this.
Environment and Climate Change
Singh wants to reduce Canada's carbon emissions. He supports helping provinces stop using coal by 2030. He also wants to encourage zero-emission vehicles and build a renewable energy system.
He wants more accountability for climate change policy. He suggests creating an independent officer to report on progress in reducing emissions.
Foreign Policy
Singh has spoken about the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza. He has called for an end to arm sales to Israel and for the recognition of the State of Palestine.
Quebec Policy
Singh supports Quebec's right of self-determination. This means he believes Quebec should have the right to decide its own future. He also opposes Bill 21, a law in Quebec that bans religious symbols for some public workers.
Monarchy
Singh believes Canada should be a republic. He does not see the need for the monarchy in the 21st century.
Personal Life
Singh practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He was recognized by the World Sikh Organization of Canada in 2012 for being the first turbaned Sikh MPP in Ontario.
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In 2018, Singh got engaged to Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, a fashion designer. They married on February 22, 2018. They have two daughters, born in January 2022 and December 2023.
Singh speaks English, French, and Punjabi fluently.
Images for kids
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Jagmeet Singh's signature
See also
In Spanish: Jagmeet Singh para niños
